Create a Batik - Artist Residency
Discover the Beauty of Batik
Why an artists in Residence Program?
An artist in residence provides an invaluable experience to students. And although school- or grade-wide assemblies can be engaging, they don’t provide the hands-on support that students receive through a teacher-artist classroom partnership.
This artist residency program is designed for school students in grades 4 and above. Students collaborate together with a professional artist to create a large batik 2D painting. The painting incorporates student's drawings of native grasses, wildflowers and critters that inhabit the world around them.
Over the course of three days, will have the opportunities to utilizes tjanting tools, brushes batik, wax and dyes to complete a finished original and unique muslin textile.
This collaborative project can be adjusted to focus on any subject the school may want to explore. Transportation, space travel, the season are just a few of the ideas.
Join Our Community
Because Kristine is an AiS/C Roster artists with the Nerbaska Arts Council. Schools, non-profits, or other community settings are eligible for funding support. AiS/C programs may involve participants of all ages, engaging individuals through lifelong learning and creative activities.
What Students Learn
1. Art's ability to bring social change. Students will learn about the our praries grasses and habitats as well the reason for conserving this unique agrarian resource. They will understand how art can be used to bring awareness and make a lasting difference to the world around them.
2. Art and Culture They will also learn about this very ancient art form that is found in every culture. Native Americans, early pioneers, Indonesian artistans, anc contemporary visual artists have all used wax resist and dyes to decorate and beautify textiles. Evidence of batik work has even been discovered in Egyption tombs.
3. Color Theory Because we only use primary colors :red blue and yellow dyes to create all the colors of the color wheel, students will experience first hand color theory and how primaries mix to form secondary colors. It's like magic.
4. Accomplishment and collaboration Students of all skill levels will experience what can happen when everyone is able to contribute to a project. When they look closely they can find their drawings and art work. The large finished art work is permanent suitable for display and years of enjoyment. It is a long lasting reminder of the joy that creating art affords.
This collaborative project can be adjusted to focus on any subject the school may want to explore. Transportation, space travel, or are just a few of the ideas.
Sandhill Prairies
Complete by 4th grade students a West Lawn Elementary, Grand Island, NE
How the Residency Works
Step 1. Students research and learn about native grasses and the critters that use the grasses as a their habitat.
Step 2. Students illustrate simple line drawings of the grasses and instects they've learned. Big Bluestem, Blue Grama, Feather Reed grass, Indian grass, Prairie Dropseed, Switchgrass, and Sideoats Grama are a few examples. Blumbees, butterflies and crickets all also important to our environment. The drawings should be simple yet bold line drawing and drawn on an 8x10 copy paper.
Step 3. Send me the images either via email or snail mail at least a week ahead of the residency. I will arrange the drawings and transfer them to a large muslin textile.
Step 4. Small groups During the three day workshop, student come to me in small groups of 5-10 students. The sessions last 30 - 45 minutes. Students will wax and dye the project adding layers of colors. Each small group will attend one 30- 45 minute session each day. We will use ancient tjanting tools, brushes and sponges and each student will have the opportunity to apply wax and apply dyes.
Step 5. Removing the wax and the big reveal. As wax is applied it becomes opaque, hiding the image underneath. When the wax is removed, the hidden is revealed. It is an exciting moment. This step can include larger groups of students. We use newsprint and household irons to lift the wax. This is when the magic happens and students see the result of their hardwork and contribution. I will stretch the batik to a frame and the project will be suitable for hanging.
Facility Requirement. This project requires room with tables, uncarpeted floors, outlet and water source. I will provide all table covering and supplies. The project can not be moved until completed so a room or location were the project will remain undisturbed is helpful The dyes and wax will not stain or damage tables or flooring.
Tjanting is an ancient tool still used by batik artists today.
Discover the Beauty of Batik
batik is a very ancient art form using wax as a resist and dyes to decorate objects and materials. Batik is found in every culture. Evidence of batik has even been found in egyption tombs. Hot waxed is used to draw on the textile and then the textile is immersed in dyes. The wax resists the dye leaving the image.
About The Artist
Kristine's education and experience in illustration and composition bring an original style, sensitivity, and craftsmanship to her work. She has offered numerous workshops in art centers and galleries as well as her studio in Hastings Nebraska.
She has won numerous awards and exhibitions including Nebraska Arts Council, Longwell Museum, Bone Creek Museum of Agrarian Art and the Museum of Nebraska Art, She was featured in the April 2016 issue of Art and Architecture Magazine as an emerging artist to watch. Her work has been purchased for use on Hollywood movie sets, corporations, hospitals and private collectors as far away as Canada and Sri Lanka.
She and her family reside in the Hastings Nebraska where she finds inspiration in the always changing seasons, native grasses and vast prairie landscapes
